Chapter 1152: Imperial Sword Becomes Sacred, Eye to Eye

Green Marsh.

One of the Nine Great Perilous Lands of Void Island.

If Hall of Sin One's location is considered north, then this place is the extreme south. The two points are separated by more than half of Void Island's Giant Kingdom, facing each other from afar.

Green Marsh was originally a muddy, greenish swamp where nothing grew. Any sentient being that stepped into it would be completely consumed by this perilous land.

But now, Green Marsh, which had been silent for countless years, was in disarray, with traces of scattered frost, coiling lightning, and crisscrossing sword energy everywhere.

Boom!

When the final lightning tribulation struck down from the skies, and the dark clouds receded, a scorched figure gently released the longsword in her hand. She stood atop the Divine Sword Xuan Cang, breathing heavily and profusely sweating.

Not far above her head, the Quasi-Saint rank, emitting a mysterious seven-colored light, rotated continuously. It seemed to have absorbed sufficient energy, sending down a light of replenishment that illuminated the woman below.

“Mmm~”

Rao Yaoyao moaned, spreading her arms, thoroughly enjoying the moment.

This was her moment!

In this moment, no one in heaven or on earth could steal her glory; this was her due.

Under the replenishment of the sacred light, Rao Yaoyao closed her eyes and raised her head, the scorched grime on her slender swan neck gradually fading.

Soon, all her injuries were healed, and all impurities on her mortal flesh were cleansed, transforming her into a true Saintly Body, radiant and vibrant.

“The swordsman, guided by the mortal realm, attains supreme detachment, transcending generations.”

“The Saint, dominating the three realms, transforms the five elements, and after ascension, soars above the Heavenly Dao.”

In the void, faint sacred sounds drifted down.

Rao Yaoyao tapped her toe, and the Divine Sword Xuan Cang spiraled up and landed in her palm.

She finally opened her eyes, which radiated light. She flew with her sword slanted, her half-torn silk dress fluttering in the wind.

“By the heavens, I decree: my sword becomes a Saint!”

With this declaration, figures of mortals rose into the sky from thousands of miles across Green Marsh, their chanting pushing Rao Yaoyao’s sword intent to the pinnacle of Sainthood.

“Clang—”

The sword’s hum rose from an unknown source, echoing through the nine heavens.

On Void Island, within the Nine Perilous Lands, between the Giant Kingdom, and beyond the wilderness and outskirts, every sentient being heard the sword’s hum, felt the sacred sound in their hearts, and reverently bowed in its direction.

“By the heavens, I decree: my sword becomes a Saint!”

“By the heavens, I decree: my sword becomes a Saint!”

As Xu Xiaoshou and Lord Han were hurrying on their way, these echoes suddenly reached their ears. Their hairs stood on end, and with a snap, they each used all their might to conceal themselves.

Night Owl, Jiang Buyi, Heavenly Five Decays, and Mu Zixi, still at the weak spatial point of Hall of Sin One, heard the sound and turned their gaze, their pupils contracting. Even without knowing the full context, they understood the meaning of this sacred sound.

Inside the sealed hall, Mei Siren silently watched the dozen Void Attendants before him, sighed, and continued to fight these seemingly immortal creatures.

Just as Xiao Kongtong looked up and saw the three characters “Hall of True Splendor” on the plaque, he stopped and looked back, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. He then tightened the sack on his shoulder, hunched over, and slipped into the great formation.

In the Extinct Ash Fire Domain, Mu Lin, who had been soaking in magma with closed eyes, only half his face exposed, suddenly opened his eyes. Beside him, a fire bubble exploded, and Bai Lian, whom he had found, shot into the sky, her face full of panic.

“Master, someone has become a Saint! Aren't we enjoying ourselves a bit too much like this?”

“But we only came to inspect the Yunlun Mountain Range.”

“Then, are we… still soaking?”

“Hua Changdeng!”

Reinserting the Divine Sword Xuan Cang into the sheath on her back, Rao Yaoyao felt the power within her and couldn't help but murmur.

She had finally reached this stage!

Quasi-Saint!

Many years ago, the Hua and Rao families simultaneously produced two sword-wielding geniuses. The clans invited a renowned swordsman of that time to jointly enlighten the young people who loved the Way of the Sword.

That teacher's surname was Mei.

It was also then that Rao Yaoyao met Hua Changdeng, who was a contemporary.

He was a person whose talent points were almost maxed out. During the three days of enlightenment, his speed of comprehension was always slightly faster than hers.

Just that slight difference...

The further they went, the more obvious the gap became!

Rao Yaoyao later learned that Hua Changdeng had started practicing swordsmanship just three days earlier than her.

But those three days, she spent over thirty years trying to catch up.

Until today, she finally reached this stage, stepping into the realm that Hua Changdeng had entered over thirty years ago.

“You will be defeated by my sword!”

Rao Yaoyao traced the blade of the Divine Sword Xuan Cang inch by inch, her eyes brimming with sword intent.

In her life, she had only chased after this one person, because he was the one who had directly defeated Ba Zun’an.

But now, Hua Changdeng had vanished.

After You Tu attacked Holy Mountain, he spent years in decline, surrounded by weeping willows in the Screen Candle Land, growing old and frail.

Rao Yaoyao did not believe that Hua Changdeng would decline.

Ancient sword cultivators, such beings, require a vast amount of time for refinement.

Even if a sword wielder doesn't wish to improve, after sitting in meditation for a hundred years, if they suddenly gain enlightenment about life, they might inadvertently break through to Sainthood.

This path is completely different from that of a spirit refiner; it requires enlightenment, focusing on 'intent' rather than 'form'.

Therefore, after becoming a Saint, the first thing Rao Yaoyao decided to do was return to Gui Zhe Holy Mountain, challenge Hua Changdeng, and at the very least, force him out of the Screen Candle Land.

A dignified descendant of the Hua clan, a dignified Sword Saint of ancient sword cultivators, sitting idle until death—what kind of ability is that?

If you cannot move, I will use you.

The Red-Clad needed this level of combat power. Rao Yaoyao considered it, no, she had actually been considering it for a long time.

Hua Changdeng must be used by her and contribute something to the Holy Divine Palace!

“Congratulations, Immortal Rao, on becoming a Saint.”

“But now, it may not be the time for a duel among you ancient sword cultivators; there is serious business to attend to.”

Suddenly, a gust of wind swept by, and a shadow descended. The voice was so calm it didn't sound human; there was no hint of congratulation, not even a ripple of emotion.

“Number Two?” Rao Yaoyao looked up. Before her stood a ten-meter-tall giant, dressed in coarse linen, impossibly burly.

“Why are you here?”

“Elder Yan and I came by the Hall Master’s order to assist Immortal Rao in shutting down Void Island.”

“I am a Quasi-Saint!” Rao Yaoyao lifted her chin, arrogance in her eyes. The Quasi-Saint of an ancient sword cultivator was incomparable to that of a spirit refiner.

Number Two nodded. “I think I already understand why Elder Yan and I needed to come here.”

Rao Yaoyao’s gaze turned cold.

When she was still a Sword Immortal, she was second to last in the Ten-Person Council, with almost no say.

But now that she had become a Quasi-Saint, everything was completely different.

In terms of background, power, and strength, she was no longer inferior to anyone.

Now, among the Ten-Person Council, only Dao Qiongcang could command her.

But Rao Yaoyao would not refuse assistance.

She knew she was short-handed. Teng Shanhai was dead, and the situation on Void Island was chaotic.

It was best if someone could be utilized.

“Speak, what is it?” Rao Yaoyao was trying her best to temper the sharpness of her newfound Quasi-Saint status, but at this moment, she was like a drawn blade, difficult to sheathe.

Number Two, however, was unfazed. Calmly, he narrated:

“Three matters.”

“First, the cores of places like the Forest of Miracles, Slumbering Valley, and Blood Realm have all vanished.”

“Second, the formation of the Void Suppressing Stele was destroyed, and its core points were disrupted. Although we have recovered the stele and returned it to its original place, there are signs that various restrictions on the inner island are loosening.”

“Third, the passage from Abyssal Fall to the inner island has been disrupted and cannot be restored due to the first two issues. The only way to regain control of Void Island now is through the ‘Sub-Plane Gate’.”

Number Two’s information became more shocking with each revelation.

Rao Yaoyao listened in silence, her face gradually turning pale.

Number Two glanced at her and said calmly, “You’ve been on Void Island longer than us, so you must have known all of this already. What is your solution? You can tell me.”

Rao Yaoyao’s eyelid twitched. She glanced at Number Two, then retracted her gaze.

“Oh, you didn’t know? My apologies, I assumed you did.” Number Two’s emotions remained unruffled as he asked again, “Then what have you been doing this whole time?”

“I was hunting a Quasi-Saint ghost beast…”

“Where is the ghost beast now?”

“Why would a Quasi-Saint ghost beast appear? When I first entered Void Island, I didn’t sense the aura of any Quasi-Saint ghost beasts in this area.”

Rao Yaoyao’s eyes flared with anger. If she hadn't known this was Number Two's direct and core-hitting way of speaking, from anyone else, she would have taken it as a provocation, each word a direct jab.

But strangely, the old Number Two wouldn't have been so direct.

“I will kill it.”

Rao Yaoyao did not explain how the ghost beast appeared.

This matter was inexplicable and would require too much explanation.

Number Two might understand that she needed pressure to become a Saint, but if it reached the Holy Divine Palace, it might be interpreted differently.

“That is just your job.”

Number Two nodded, stating matter-of-factly, “The situation is somewhat different now. There are signs of human manipulation in Void Island’s structure; many rats are hidden here. As a leader, what you should focus on is not just a single Quasi-Saint ghost beast.”

“I know.”

“Yes, but knowing isn’t important. What’s important is what you will do next.”

Rao Yaoyao’s anger had reached her eyebrows. She repeated in a heavy voice, “I’ve memorized the ghost beast’s aura. I’m going to go kill it now!”

“No.” Number Two shook his head. “What you need to do now is not to kill, but to go to the Hall of True Splendor.”

“Hall of True Splendor?” Rao Yaoyao was startled.

Number Two flipped his hand, and a pile of black hexagonal crystals appeared in his palm. He offered them, saying, “These are Void Crystals, fifty of them, a gift from Hall Master Dao for your Sainthood. He wants you to check your head—”

Rao Yaoyao: ???

At that moment, she almost drew her sword.

“—for the ‘Exile Countdown.’ If nothing unexpected happens, there are ten days left,” Number Two continued after a pause.

Rao Yaoyao’s eyelid twitched.

It was true!

After she had chased Lord Han to Green Marsh and recklessly attacked, midway through her tribulation, this exile countdown appeared in her mind.

“Hall Master Dao said he doesn't want you to be exiled to the inner island as soon as you become a Saint. If you go there, you truly won't survive. So, no matter how important or numerous the current matters are, the first thing you must do is go to the Hall of True Splendor to exchange for a ‘No-Exile Token’,” Number Two said faintly.

Rao Yaoyao silently took the Void Crystals and eventually put them away obediently.

“Does he have any other instructions?”

“He wants you to report the battle casualties.”

Rao Yaoyao fell silent again. After a long pause, she said, “Teng Shanhai is dead.”

Number Two seemed unsurprised, merely asking calmly, “Who killed him? How did he die? How do you know?”

These three consecutive questions stunned Rao Yaoyao.

After a long moment, she let out a sigh and said, “Jiang Buyi, that Quasi-Saint from the Jiang clan of Northern Domain’s Puxuan. He was also on Void Island. Teng Shanhai insulted a Saint, and Jiang Buyi witnessed the power of a demon god. He forcefully killed Teng Shanhai right before me.”

“Didn’t give you face, did he?” Number Two uttered a surprised remark, but quickly regained his composure and looked towards the void.

“Jiang Buyi!”

With a hum, dark clouds gathered in the void, seemingly about to unleash divine punishment. But the next instant, this heavenly phenomenon abruptly dissipated, as if it had seen something it shouldn't have.

Number Two retracted his gaze from the dark clouds, looked north, and nodded, saying, “I know Jiang Buyi’s location. Leave this matter to me; you go to the Hall of True Splendor first.”

Rao Yaoyao suddenly felt uncomfortable all over.

She utterly disliked this feeling of being completely arranged, from top to bottom, inside and out.

The joyful mood she had just after becoming a Saint felt like accidentally swallowing a fly while opening her mouth to celebrate, making her feel utterly disgusted.

Number Two pondered for a moment, then suddenly spoke, “I apologize, my words just now might have been too harsh, but Hall Master Dao instructed me to deliver them to you verbatim. Everything I said was his instruction. He said he wanted to ‘discipline’ you a bit.”

After a moment of daze, the veins on Rao Yaoyao’s forehead throbbed wildly.

“I knew it felt like a stab to the heart. So, it was Dao Qiongcang speaking, and Number Two was just a messenger!”

Rubbing the spatial ring that held the Void Crystals, Rao Yaoyao still found it hard to swallow her anger. Her teeth nearly gnashed to powder as she suppressed her fury, struggling to force words through clenched jaws.

“You thank him for me! Including the gift!”

Number Two suddenly shrank, becoming the same height as Rao Yaoyao.

He faced Rao Yaoyao directly, the corners of his lips pulled outward and upward, revealing a stiff smile as he calmly said, “You’re welcome.”

At that instant, Rao Yaoyao felt her anger surge to the heavens, wishing she could cleave this damned Heavenly Machine Puppet to pieces with her sword!

“Did he tell you to say that too?”

“Yes.”

“Then why are you smiling?!”

“Apologies for upsetting you, but Hall Master Dao instructed me to shrink and say it with a smile. Oh, and by the way, the phrase ‘Apologies for upsetting you’—that was also his instruction.”

***

Hall of Sin One, at the weak spatial point.

The declaration, “By the heavens, I decree: my sword becomes a Saint!” interrupted the standoff between the three individuals there.

Mu Zixi gazed forward, her face pale. She had already learned the identities and relationships of the three through their conversation.

Jiang Buyi, Night Owl, the head of the Dark Department, and Heavenly Five Decays of the King of Hell!

Between Jiang and Night Owl, it was a relationship of equal cooperation, the kind between a Quasi-Saint power and the Holy Divine Palace.

Between Night Owl and Heavenly Five Decays, it was a life-and-death pursuit. Night Owl had been chased here by Heavenly Five Decays like a duck.

Between Heavenly Five Decays and Jiang, it seemed like a friendship. In any case, Heavenly Five Decays didn't want Jiang Buyi to side with Night Owl, and Night Owl wanted Jiang Buyi to side with her. Jiang Buyi himself didn't want to take either side, wishing to stay out of it, but it seemed increasingly difficult.

“Shou Bao, woo woo woo…”

Mu Zixi was close to tears. Only when she was alone did she miss Xu Xiaoshou immensely.

With such a tangled mess of relationships, she never had to think before; whatever Xu Xiaoshou said, she just did.

Somehow, muddle-headedly, the ones who always benefited the most in the end were her and Xu Xiaoshou—that was Xu Xiaoshou’s ability!

But now, Mu Zixi had to rely on herself to untangle these relationships, as her life might be at stake.

Mu Zixi felt her mind was turning into mush.

But, fortunately, she was getting smarter; just a little bit more, and she would have completely lost it, but she could still sort everything out.

“Don’t think about it.” Suddenly, a clear, enchanting female voice sounded in her mind.

“You’re awake?” Mu Zixi was overjoyed. “Quick, help me sort this out; I can’t make sense of it anymore. Why are you only coming out now? You were clearly awake earlier!”

“Alright, I’ll help you sort it out.” The elder sister’s voice was very doting, as if completely unconcerned with how Mu Zixi had treated her before:

“Heavenly Five Decays knows you. She must have recognized your identity, but her gaze didn’t linger on you just now, so she doesn’t care about you.”

“Night Owl also recognized you. She watched you for a while… you’re done for. She wants to kill you, but she doesn’t understand why you’re with Jiang Buyi now, and she’s afraid that if she speaks out, Jiang Buyi will completely defect and side with Heavenly Five Decays.”

“As for Jiang Buyi, don’t worry, he doesn’t know you, but he will soon.”

Mu Zixi saw stars, her small head completely muddled. “Wh-what do you mean?”

“I mean, they recognized your identity.”

“Impossible, I’m not using Mu Xiaogong’s face; they can’t recognize me!”

Mu Zixi panicked.

“But you’re using Mu Zixi’s face. They might not have known you at first, only found you familiar, because everyone only saw you in papers and jade slips. But soon they will remember that at a certain apprenticeship ceremony, the Saint Servant’s second-in-command, Sang Qiye, took a disciple named Mu Zixi.”

Mu Zixi’s vision went black, and she almost fell.

She had never imagined that the reason for her identity being exposed would be because of old man Sang!

How could that old geezer, imprisoned by the Holy Divine Palace, still manage to screw her over? No wonder Xu Xiaoshou disliked him…

“What should I do?”

“Offer up the Divine Demon Eyes and wait to die.”

“I don’t want to die, wuwu… Xu Xiaoshou must know where I am; he’ll come save me!”

“He came last time too, and you died last time too.”

“You shut up!”

“I can shut up, but you must understand, Xu Xiaoshou can save you once, but not infinitely. If you always resist me, one day, we will die together.”

“Then what should I do?”

“Accept me. You don’t need to rely on Xu Xiaoshou; you can stand on your own. I am you, and you are me. You just don’t want to have my kind of thinking, but you actually can do it. Think for yourself.”

Mu Zixi fell silent.

She didn’t like thinking, and she didn’t want to accept.

She had long understood that Lei Xi’er was herself, and she was Lei Xi’er, but once fused, she wouldn’t be herself anymore.

“You just don’t want to face it…” That detestable voice reappeared. “Today’s matter is still small. Future matters will only be bigger, not smaller.”

Mu Zixi sharply grasped the key point: “So, you have a solution! You said this was a small matter!”

Lei Xi’er fell silent. This ability to grasp the core of a problem was strikingly similar to Xu Xiaoshou’s.

“You have a solution!”

“I do indeed.”

“What is it?”

“Night Owl and Jiang Buyi are both your enemies. The King of Hell collects the Lei clan’s eyes, so Heavenly Five Decays is also your enemy. But if you learn to think, you’ll know that of two evils, you choose the lesser. Heavenly Five Decays can be cooperated with.”

“How do we cooperate?”

“Offer up the Divine Demon Eyes and wait to die.”

“Don’t you have a more reliable solution?!” Mu Zixi almost jumped up.

“Yes.” Lei Xi’er was silent for a moment, then said, “Take the initiative to attack, control all three of them, rush out of Hall of Sin One through the weak spatial point, and then offer up the Divine Demon Eyes and wait to die.”

“Jiang Buyi! Rao Yaoyao has already become a Saint. Before she arrives, you still have a chance to work with me to eliminate Heavenly Five Decays.”

Night Owl was no longer economizing her words.

She simply didn’t understand why Jiang Buyi hesitated, why he wanted to retreat at a mere glance from Heavenly Five Decays.

Could he retreat? Could the Jiang clan of Northern Domain’s Puxuan retreat?

If Jiang Buyi didn't assist the Holy Divine Palace today, tomorrow he would be charged with colluding with the King of Hell.

The Jiang clan of Northern Domain’s Puxuan would undoubtedly perish!

Heavenly Five Decays similarly hadn't let Jiang Buyi leave yet.

Unlike Night Owl’s ignorance, he had a complete grasp of Jiang Buyi’s weakness, knowing that this Quasi-Saint couldn't actually make a move.

“Why have you come?” Heavenly Five Decays asked.

Jiang Buyi glanced at Night Owl, his expression incredibly solemn and complex. “This Saint is merely here to complete a mission…”

What damned mission is this!

Just for fifty Void Crystals, is it really worth it? For this, I have to face the Decaying Body again!

“What mission?” Heavenly Five Decays was the calmest person in the room.

“To capture her and bring her back to the Hall of True Splendor to exchange for a ‘No-Exile Token’,” Jiang Buyi said, pointing at Night Owl, still hesitating.

“You found the Hall of True Splendor?” Heavenly Five Decays was surprised, then sneered, “How many Void Crystals do you need?”

Night Owl’s heart skipped a beat, sensing things were about to go wrong.

“Fifty…”

The moment Jiang Buyi spoke, whoosh, a spatial ring flew through the air, tracing an elegant arc.

Heavenly Five Decays sneered, “I’ll give you sixty Void Crystals. You help this old man capture Night Owl, and the extra ten are a gift.”

Jiang Buyi’s face instantly flushed.

He felt it was an insult!

However, with the countdown nearly over, fifty Void Crystals were life-saving items; he had to take them!

If he missed this opportunity, he didn't know when he would get another.

Go catch Void Attendants to kill? Easier said than done! Jiang Buyi couldn't make a move now!

With a flick, Jiang Buyi moved, raising his sleeve.

No matter how humiliating it was to bow for a meager five pecks of rice, or for a Saint to humble himself for fifty Void Crystals, Jiang Buyi was about to take that spatial ring.

Just then.

“Gaa—”

Accompanied by a piercing hoot, Night Owl forcefully struck from the darkness, taking the spatial ring first.

She couldn’t let Jiang Buyi succeed. If she faced Heavenly Five Decays alone, she likely wouldn’t last until Rao Yaoyao’s reinforcements arrived.

At the same time, there was also a commotion behind the three of them.

Jiang Buyi was startled.

He wasn’t scared because Night Owl made a move, but because the pale-faced Forbidden Puppet behind him suddenly surged with World Power and Saint Power, launching a sudden attack.

This was even more terrifying than Night Owl!

Jiang Buyi immediately turned around, wary of the Forbidden Puppet, no longer caring about the spatial ring.

Night Owl was equally startled by the young girl.

She did know Mu Zixi, but in this situation, what role could a little girl play?

Who would have thought this little girl possessed Saint Power!

Silently, two peak Great Void experts plus one Quasi-Saint simultaneously noticed the black and white Higanbana flowers that had bloomed on the ground at some unknown point!

“This…” Night Owl’s pupil trembled. She recognized these Higanbana flowers!

But before she could think further, the spatial ring in her hand suddenly burst open with a bang.

A ‘Lord of Calamity,’ of colossal size and entirely constructed from decaying aura, shot into the sky.

As Night Owl stared in astonishment, this colossal entity transformed into pure decaying aura, violently pouring into her mouth and nose.

“Ugh ahhh—”

Jiang Buyi heard it, his heart trembling.

At this moment, his two eyes were completely insufficient.

The scene he saw with his Saint Sense was Heavenly Five Decays using the spatial ring to trick Night Owl.

When he turned his head, what he saw was the Forbidden Puppet that had followed him all along, its eyes transformed into the legendary Divine Demon Eyes!

And, she spoke human words.

“Demon Extreme!”

Mu Zixi first controlled Jiang Buyi, who was close and posed a threat to her. Seeing Night Owl also affected, she was delighted and quickly turned towards Heavenly Five Decays.

As long as she controlled him, she could escape Hall of Sin One through the weak spatial point.

“Divine…”

But before the word could leave her lips, she saw the orange-masked figure standing on the other side suddenly turn his head.

Beneath the mask, in his right eye, three grey flowers spun rapidly, then all merged into his pupil.

Heavenly Five Decays’ eye activation speed was even faster than Mu Zixi’s Divine Demon Eyes!

“Three-Aversion Pupil Eye, Intent-Shifting Aperture!”

At this moment, Mu Zixi’s thoughts truly slowed down, like those of a puppet.

In the dark Hall of Sin One, Heavenly Five Decays raised his hands high.

At this moment, even his left eye held a hint of a smile.

At this moment, black night and grey mist became an eternity in the eyes of the other three present!